Draft EIS_072312.pdf - Middle Fork American River Project ...

20120723-4002 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 07/23/2012
The ramp at Hell Hole reservoir currently provides boating access to the reservoir
throughout the peak recreation season in all water year types. In general, the ramps are
currently functional through the extended recreation season, in wet, above normal and
below normal and dry water year types. In critical water years the ramp is available until
about Labor Day and in extreme critical water years the ramp is available until around the
beginning of August. If the Hell Hole boat ramp were extended to an elevation of 4,485
feet, as proposed by PCWA and specified as the first phase of extension in the
Alternative 1 Recreation Plan, the latter would provide additional reservoir boating
during the peak recreation season in dry water year types at the lowest minimum water
surface elevation but PCWA’s proposal would not. 21 Extending the boat ramp to an
elevation of 4,455 feet, as specified as the second phase of extension in the Alternative 1
Recreation Plan, would ensure additional boating access during the peak recreation
season in critical water year types at the lowest minimum water surface elevation.
Because both PCWA’s proposal and the Alternative 1 plan would extend the boat ramp,
there would be greater boating access to the reservoir during the peak and extended
recreation season than what currently exists. However, implementing a second phase to
extend the boat ramp to elevation 4,455 feet, as the Alternative 1 plan specifies, would
ensure the ramp would be functional at the minimum water surface elevation during the
peak recreation season in critical water year types whereas PCWA’s proposal would not.
Evaluating measures to extend boat ramps should also consider the benefit in
terms of the number of recreationists that would take advantage of the additional days of
boating access and potential site constraints that may prevent extending the boat ramps.
Because extending the boat ramps would generally provide additional access during the
extended recreation season when recreation use is low and mainly in drier water year
types, the benefit of extending the ramps may be marginal. Additionally, because both
PCWA and the Forest Service state that it is not known if extending the ramps is even
feasible, it would be premature to require PCWA to extend the ramps to only ensure
access in drier water year types. As compared to the existing conditions, PCWA’s
proposal would provide additional boating access during the peak recreation season in
critical water year types and during the extended recreation season there would be
additional boating access in dry and critical water year types. If the Hell Hole boat ramp
were further extended to an elevation of 4,455 feet, as specified in the Alternative 1 plan,
there would be boating access during the peak and extended recreation seasons in all but
extreme critical water year types when the ramp would be available until about the
beginning of July. As compared to the existing conditions, the Alternative 1 plan would
provide additional boating access during the extended recreation season in critical water
year types.
21 We assume that a boat ramp extended to an elevation of 4,485 feet would not be
functional at a minimum reservoir elevation of 4,482 feet.
228